In Fast Film Fridays we’ve reviewed three Steve McQueen films, including ‘Le Mans‘ plus ‘The Thomas Crown Affair‘ and ‘The Getaway‘ but a look back at McQueen’s career would be incomplete without 1968’s ‘Bullitt‘ the most iconic car-chase movie of all time.
The film depicted a high-level of authenticity. Everything was filmed on location in San Francisco including using actual doctors and nurses (not actors) in the San Francisco General Hospital scenes. Most impressive to gearheads is the car chase, filmed over six weeks on 30 blocks of public roads. San Francisco had a new mayor then, determined to get movie money flowing into his town by being highly co-operative with film productions. The result was a car chase scene that looks so completely authentic… because it was real.
McQueen and the stuntmen practiced at Irwindale Speedway for months in anticipation of the car chase sequence. In several scenes of McQueen tearing through San Francisco streets, his eyes can even be seen in the rearview mirror. An all star cast, solid script and talented director all combined to make one of the most memorable and influential movies of all time. Just watch the airport scene at the end of Michael Mann’s 1995 flick ‘Heat‘ and tell me that’s not liftrd from ‘Bullitt‘!
Forget all of that. The cars are the stars of ‘Bullitt‘ and here’s a few notable ones.
1968 Volkswagen Beetle (the green one)
There could only be one car to start this list; the green 1968 Volkswagen Beetle Type 1. Used as a ‘sweeper’ car by the stunt team, making sure that nobody got into the shot by mistake. Since these were public streets, the Beetle was sent up ahead of the speeding cars to make sure intersections were still clear. The iconic green Beetle shows up in the background of many shots in the big chase scene.
1956 Jaguar XKSS ‘Green Rat’
This road legal race car was Steve McQueen’s own personal vehicle, and plays a very small role in the film. In the opening scene in the parking garage, as the final credit is rolling, there’s the Jag just casually parked in the lot next to mundane family sedans. McQueen was a real car-guy, and just wanted to put his baby on film for a moment. That’s cool.
1967 Ford ‘Custom’ 4-Door Post
Nothing custom about this car; that was just the model name. Nothing all the special about yellow, four-door, family-sedan with matching yellow wheels and dog-dish hubcaps. But the driver of this particular Sunshine Cab is the consigliere from ‘The Godfather‘ a young Robert Duval… who didn’t have hair even back in 1968!
1964 Porsche 356 Cabriolet
Not only is McQueen’s girlfriend in the movie the stunning Jacqueline Bissett, but she just so happens to drive a pale yellow drop-top. When detective Frank Bullitt wrecks his Mustang during the iconic chase scene, his girlfriend’s Porsche comes in handy. First he’s in the passenger’s seat, but after she’s traumatized at a crime scene, Bullitt takes the wheel.
1968 Dodge Charger R/T 440
This thing is the most sinister car in cinema history. Jaws on wheels. Black paint, black vinyl roof and blacked-out hidden headlights make this bruiser such an intimidating car. Of course the bad guys would drive it! In the chase scene with Bullitt’s Mustang the ill-handling Charger really holds its own, but would likely get trounced by the lighter Mustang in a real race… except on the drag strip.
1968 Mustang 390 GT 2+2 Fastback
The original hero-car; the Highland Green, de-badged Mustang is as iconic as they come. The production company built two of these cars; one stripped-out camera car, and the ‘hero-car’ that McQueen himself drove during filming. The latter one sold for a record USD $3.74 million at Mecum Auctions in 2020. A souped-up engine and re-enforced frame helped the car survive shooting on the streets of San Francisco.
Since nothing is sacred anymore, ‘Bullitt‘ will probably get remade with a green Mustang Mach-E SUV silently chasing a black Dodge Charger EV safely through the CGI streets of San Francisco.
For film buffs, it’s important to look back at these original films to see how much authenticity mattered. More than 50 years after its release ‘Bullitt‘ remains the greatest car flick of all time.
i think i’ve told you my mom had that exact charger. it was a great car! the hamster who lost his life in the window well would not agree but most of the rest of us would
I definitely agree! What a cool car to grow up with. I bet the local teenagers were always trying to drag-race your mom at the stoplights!